Boko Haram: Lawyers ask AGF to investigate, prosecute sponsors

A group of Legal practitioners has asked the federal government to investigate and prosecute sponsors of the Islamist Terrorist group, Boko Haram, at local courts and the International Criminal Court, ICC, The Hague.
The lawyers, under the auspices of Lawyers United for Equality and Human Rights Advocacy, in a letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), asked the federal government to avoid the grave mistake of past governments which led to the intermittent resurrection of the Niger Delta militancy.
The convener of the group, Mr. Edward Omaga, claimed that the recent developments in Nigeria, which he said are capable of causing serious political upheavals, are pointers to the fact that the top politicians in Borno State, who created Boko Haram, are still in touch with their “foot soldiers”.
“As an umbrella body of pro-democracy, concerned and patriotic Nigerian lawyers committed to true democratic principles bringing to cognizance equity, fairness and respect for human rights and the rule of law in line with the change mantra of the present administration, we are afraid that the senseless killings by this animalistic bunch will not stop unless their sponsors are identified, tried in our local courts or dragged to the International Criminal Court at The Hague and accordingly imprisoned for facilitating heinous crimes against humanity. This is the only way that enduring peace would return to the North and Nigeria in general.
“We consider it imperative to demand that you invoke your powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and other relevant statutes as the Chief Law Officer and Minister of Justice to impress it on President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute a Judicial Commission of Inquiry within 5 (Five) working days from the date hereof.
“This will avail Nigerians the opportunity of presenting vital information capable of fishing out the sponsors of Boko Haram and bringing them to book. We submit that the monstrosity of Boko Haram insurgency is too enormous to be imagined. A situation whereby no less than 10,000 persons have been killed in various brutal activities spearheaded by the group is alarming”.
The lawyers said it was their duty as a group of refined legal minds to fight and preserve Nigeria- the country that gave every Nigerian a home and heritage.
The group condoled with those who lost their loved ones to insurgencies and insisted that the time to end Boko Haram is now otherwise the innocent blood spilled over the years will hunt the nation.